Blackpool V Bristol City at Bloomfield Road : Match Preview

01 March 2013 09:31

Blackpool will be without midfielder Chris Basham when they take on Bristol City.

Basham suffered a broken cheekbone during last weekend's goalless draw against Leicester and is set for a spell on the sidelines.

Seasiders boss Paul Ince is still looking for a first goal and win at the helm and could introduce Matt Derbyshire or Nathan Delfouneso into a shot-shy attack.

On-loan Nottingham Forest striker Derbyshire played under Robins boss Sean O'Driscoll at the City Ground earlier this season and insists the ex-Doncaster manager will look to implement his footballing philosophy despite the much-maligned condition of Blackpool's Bloomfield Road playing surface.

"I've worked under Sean O'Driscoll and he's a footballing person," he told Blackpool's official website.

"It doesn't matter whether he gets beat three or four nil, he just wants to get the ball down and play football, and fair play to him for that."

Defenders Ian Evatt (knee) and Bob Harris (toe) remain absent.

Bristol City have been boosted by the return of three key players as they look for their first away win under O'Driscoll.

Captain Cole Skuse (knee) striker Sam Baldock (calf) and the experienced Louis Carey all came through training unscathed after recent injuries and look set to be available to help the Robins battle for npower Championship survival.

Skuse has been absent since the end of January while Carey took a blow to his knee in the 2-0 defeat at Blackburn on February 2.

Baldock had been close to a return at the beginning of this month but suffered a minor setback, causing him to sit out City's last four games.

Striker Ryan Taylor is two weeks away from a return to training, meaning the former Rotherham forward could be available before the end of the campaign but Richard Foster has an Achilles problem which will be assessed by the club's medical staff.

City's 5-3 victory over Barnsley last weekend has moved them within three points of safety ahead of the clash with Ince's men.